Tyler Wade developing into Yankees jack-of-all-trades

TAMPA, Fla. – Carrying extra relievers in today’s game means a shorter bench, which got Joe Girardi thinking about adding a hybrid club to his managerial bag.

Couldn’t the Yankees develop some multi-positional players?

“It was Joe’s idea, maybe in the middle of the 2015 season when he first brought it up to me,’’ said Gary Denbo, the Yankees’ VP of Player Development. “At that time, we didn’t really have a player that kind of met the standard of what he was looking for.’’

Tyler Wade soon presented himself, fitting the bill as an athletic shortstop with the versatility to handle second base, third base and the outfield – while hitting enough to be counted among the organization’s most promising prospects.

“They said it’s going to help out the big-league team in the future and that’s why my ultimate goal is, to get there,’’ Wade said of that initial discussion about his role. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m all in.’ ’’

Wade’s baserunning ability, high baseball IQ and reputation as “a high character guy, an exceptional makeup player,’’ clinched it for Denbo and his staff.

“He’s the kind of guy we hope to develop in our system,’’ Denbo said. “He has bought all in about learning as much as he can at each position.’’

The Red Sox’s Brock Holt and the Cubs’ Ben Zobrist are forerunners of the multi-dimensional player, and Zobrist’s consecutive World Series rings from the Royals and Cubs – and the millions he’s earned – have brought standing to the idea that a hybrid player can be a roster staple.

“(Zobrist) is playing every single day at a different position, and he’s winning championships. And I think this team has something special going on,’’ Wade said of the Yankees’ youth movement. “I’m all for it.’’

On Sunday, Wade started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 in the Yankees’ 6-4 win against the Astros at West Palm Beach.

But the lefty-hitting, 2013 fourth-round draft pick out of Murrieta (Calif.) High is still batting .419 (13-for-31) this spring, giving Girardi a good look at a player he might come to rely on.

“He loves it and that’s why I think he’s done so well with it. He’s embraced the idea,’’ Girardi said of Wade’s diamond carousel. “You have a guy like that on your squad, you’re covered everywhere.’’

Say a 13th pitcher needs to be called up to bolster a tired bullpen. If a trusty multi-positional player is on the roster, “he gives you a ton of options,’’ said Girardi, adding that such a player could play “five, six games a week’’ to rest regulars at six positions.

After playing 91 games at shortstop and 38 games at second base for Class AA Trenton last year – making both the midseason and postseason Eastern League All-Star teams – Wade went to the Arizona Fall League and started games at all three outfield positions.

“I was very happy to get the opportunity,’’ said Wade, whose initial challenge was “just managing the workload’’ of preparing at each position.

“Obviously, I’d only played shortstop and second base and my routine was based on that. So I had to find a new routine,’’ Wade said. “I figured it out in Arizona and it’s worked really well here. I don’t get tired in my work, everything’s new every day and it’s been great.’’

Wade carries three fielder’s gloves in his locker, one for middle infield play, one for third base and an outfielder’s glove.

“I want to be in the big leagues and help these guys win,’’ Wade said. “And that’s eventually going to help, playing different positions.’’